Officials with the Colorado Department of Transportation are currently investigating the possibility of building five new rail stations along a much-anticipated line that will stretch from Denver to the northwest section of the Centennial State.
What is being called the Mountain Rail project has been in the planning stage for nearly three years now and was launched in response to local officials and legislators in such cities as Steamboat Springs and Winter Park who have wanted to see a passenger rail system connected to their communities.
According to a website maintained by the CDOT, the essence of the project will see the development of a network of passenger lines connecting “the mountain towns and regions with urban centers and recreational locations.”
As envisioned, the Mountain Rail service will use “existing rail infrastructure to meet the growing demand for passenger service.”
That existing infrastructure is partly made up of Union Pacific Railroad freight tracks.
Press reports have speculated on just what cities and towns will finally end up as stops for the rail line, with the publication Denverite recently noting that the city of Arvada, roughly 20 miles to the northwest of Denver, may also be the site of a station.
In a statement sent to the publication, Rachael Kuroiwa, an Arvada spokesperson, noted that “CDOT has been routinely meeting with City of Arvada leadership, keeping them informed on progress as well as working with the city to share opportunities for our community to learn about the project and provide feedback to CDOT.”
Earlier reports have also indicated that the new line could offer up to three daily round trips of passenger service, encompassing around 500,000 train miles annually.
The project has already been the subject of several public input meetings. The CDOT has additionally scheduled an open house for April 30 to be held at the Arvada High School in Arvada to review the most recent plans for the project.
March 23, 2026
By Garry Boulard
